Prologue

prologue

Truth it was, and love of it, that moved me to speak through my servants so many times before. It is love of truth again that moves me to speak now. Truth permeates the universe. It is everywhere: good, shining, pure. And yet there is one place where error now abounds: in the hearts of men. Nature formed men like she formed the beasts, according to the exemplar of the universe: to be a mirror of truth and order. But in man lies always the struggle between reason and the baser passions; the former has the power to transform him into a god, while the latter is corrupting, making him worse than the beasts that crawl upon the earth. Through life and through history, these two have always battled. Through instruction, by divine guidance, have men many times conquered these passions and remained just. Now, alas, it is the baser passions that control the souls of men. Now the ways of men have become unclear, confused and there is unrest in their great cities.

I have not rushed into this, but have weighed the matter, in every detail, upon the scales of reason. For long have I watched and bided my time. Below me in the world, I have seen men driven to tears from their grief by the chaos that surrounds them. Men who have come to forget the divinity within them, that divine spark that makes them wise and just. They have put away their learning; they no longer enquire into the mysteries of nature, they no longer sing the praises of the gods, they no longer create good laws. Do not think I have been unaffected by what I have seen; for I too have been moved by their suffering and have wept for them. If I have not acted, it is only for my love of men and of my faith in them, that has stopped me! Many times I have hoped they would cease their descent into corruption, as they had done before. Now I fear it is too late for that. I can remain silent no longer as men have now forgotten me and are rushing to the brink. And so it is now that I have left my home among the deathless gods and I have wandered closer to the world. Soon I will speak; and let all those who wish, listen. For I shall bring comfort and counsel to men. Though oftentimes they have ignored me in the past, they will do so now at their own peril.


My task is difficult. Men are proud; it will be no easy matter to persuade them to mend their ways. Many do not even realize that they are lost but willingly plunge headlong into madness. But do not lose hope! For the good and blessed too have watched with concern the fall of man. Even the mighty cloud gatherer himself has turned his gaze down to the earth. I shall call on the assistance of Heaven. And as the gods are just, so too is my cause. They shall give heed to my cries. And so let mighty Zeus grant his favours on my enterprise! May his wisdom fill me so that I may instruct men as wisely as I may. And now, as I approach the world, let the muses, silent for so long, sing once more! Pour forth your poetry as water pours from a jug. Craft my words with honey so men’s ears may drink them deeply. And lastly, let the gates of heaven open and shine forth its beauty. Let it not disdain to bring forth its purity and goodness and to once more show its mysteries. For I would that they show men the darkness below the earth and the wonders of the divine heavens so that men may once again know good from evil, the just from the unjust.


My foot now alights upon the good soil of holy earth. Dawn is breaking. I shall take the guise of a young woman to do my work. For I am Philosophy, and I walk the earth once more. I have come again to the world of men to shower upon them bounteous gifts from myself and the gods. I bring with me moderation, faith, tolerance, and I bring truth.